^j 


V  -^ 


ri 


w 


ho 


^^  THE 


Great  Duty 

O  F 

cH^Rirr, 

confide  red  and  applied 


I  N    A 


SERMON, 

Preached  at  the  Church  in 
'Prattle-Street^  Lofton,  on  the 
Lord's-Day,  November  28. 
1742. 

^yJonathanAfhlcy^  a.m. 

Paftor  of  the  Church  of  Christ,  in  Deerfield- 
^  ««*«««  «j- «*  ^  «.«*««««,  «j.  ^  ^  ^ 

BOSTON' 
Printed  by  J.  Draper,  for  S.  ElioTj  in  CornWL 
1742. 


Preface. 


Courteous  Reader, 

TJjrrHOEVER  thou  art,  into  whofe   Hands  tlefe 

yf/   following    Pages  may  fail ;    1  ask   the  Kindnefs, 

that thiU  woullft  read  wiihiut  Prejudice  :  lean 

ajfire  y.u  1  had  an  h'tcfi  Intention  in  delivering  of  it  ; 

and  hope  you  will  have  the  fame  in  reading. If  what 

1  have  faid  in  the  Introdu^ion  to  my  Text  may  openyour 
Eyes,  when  ycu  fee  the  fame  Diforders  in  our  Churches, 
as  were  in  the  Church  of  Corinth,  and  reclaim  you  from 
ihem  :  Or,  if  it  be  a  Means  of  removing  the  Prejudice 
cf  your  Mind  aga'tnjl  Things  of  a  ferious  ISJaturCy 
when  you  find  there  were  the  fame  Irregularities 
in  the  Church  cf  Corinth  (  at  the  fame  Time  that  the 
Fruits  cf  the  Spirit  were  evidently  amongji  them)  as 
are  amomft  us  at  this  Day  of  the  Grace  ofLjOD,  in  the 
hopeful  Converfi  n  of  many  in  our  Churches',  Or  if  it 
excite  in  you  earnefi  Prayers  and  longing  Dejires  after 
that  Charity  which  is  greater  than  Faith  and  Hope, 
which  is  the  Life  and  Soul  of  Religion  here.,  and  the 
Happinefs  of  Heaven  above  ;  let  GOD  have  all  the 
Praife  ;  tny  End  is  anfivered. 

I  am  your  Servant  in  the  Gofpel, 


J.  Afliley, 


r^c. 


i!§®©®^i^i@®®i®i 


THE 

great  DUTY 

O  F 

C  H  u4  R  ITT 

confider^d  and  applied. 

I  C  O  R.   xiii.  I.  2,3. 

*THO'  Ifpeak  with  tie  Tongues  cf  Men  anH  Angels ^ 
an]  have  not  Charity^  I  am  become  as  f^undtng 
Brafi^  or  a  tinkling  Cymbal. 
And  tbo'  I  have  the  Gift  ofProphefy^  and  under ftand all 
Myftcries^and  all  Knowledge  i  and  though  1  have  all 
Fatthyfothat  I  could  remove  Mountains^  and  have  no 
Charity,  Jam  nothing. 
.  Jnd  though  J  heftow  all  my  Goods  to  feed  the  Poor^ 
and  tho'  I  give  my  Body  to  be  burned-,  and  have  not 
Charity,    it  profiteth  me  nothing. 

HOEVER  carefully  reads  this  E- 
piftle  of  the  Ap'ftle  to  the  Church  of 
Corinth,  and  examines  their  State  by 
what  the  Apofile  fays  to  them,  and  of 
them,  and  then  brings  his  Tho'ts 
down  toourownTimeF,  and  the  State 
of  Religion  amongft  us,  cannot,  I 
think,  well  avoicl  rnnning  a  Parrallel  between  Us  and 


%  ne  great  Duty  c/C  H  A  R I T  Y 

T^em  :  And  the  Circumftance^^  of  Religion  in  T^h  Land 
will  in  nothing  appear  very  differenc,  2nd  in  many 
Thhgs  will  exa(5liy  referable  Theirs. 

The  Apof:^Ie  Owns  and  blefles  GOD  for  it ;  That 
there  was  a  very  pleiUiful  Effufion  of  the  Divine 
,Sf-iri*  on  the  Church  of  Crrimh  in  his  extraordinary 
Gift:-,  fuch  ?.s  Tejigues^  working  Miracles^  Prophefying^ 
gcc.  And  in  his  ccmmcn^  and  fuving  Graces  on  the 
Hearts  of  Believers  ;  en'ightning  and  comforting  their 
Souls  J  Chapt,  I.  4, 8:h  Ferp, 

And  it  is  fa'.ly  evident  to  every  nnprejadiced  Mind, 
that  GOD  has  remirkab'y  fhower'd  down  his  Spirit 
on  the  Chvjches  in  our  Land  (not  indeed  in  his  ex- 
trmrdinary  Glfrs  o^'  Tor>^,ues  and  working  Miracles ;  for 
thefe  are  not  necdT^ry  for  u?,  ncr  to  be  expected  ;  but  ) 
in  his  ecmmctt  and  fjii^g  Operations  on  the  Minds  of 
Men,  in  canvinciuo,  converting,  edifying  und  com- 
fcning  his  People. 

But  yet,  It  is  obfervable,  That  in  the  Chu'-ch  of 
C'^rinth  there  was  mucn  Contention  and  Divifion  in 
rt^lig-ons  M?tter>  :  They  feU  into  diverfe  Seds  and 
F*r;ia.,v.ho  w-ere  too  much  void  of  Charity  towards  each 
c:ber:  One  faid  he  was  of  Pdul^  another  of  JpcJlos,  a 
t'uidci  CcfhaSy  or  Peter,  a  fourth  oiClrifi  ;  snd  each 
Fsjrfy  \'.-as  concern'd  to  exalt  it  feif,  and  puU  down 
tilie  Gther  ;  iKsrefore  the  Ap^ftle  expoffulates  with  then^i 
.Tisbe  dees  in.  rbe  irrh,  12th and  lyh  Ferfes  ci  tht  ift 
Chapter.  And  herG'n  v.e  are  nor  unlike  them:  A!- 
suolc  erKjitfs  are  the  ^ecfls  and  Parties  tmongft  us ; 
i:ori\e  Foi'Qwer.-^  and  Admirers  of. one,  and  fon^e  of  a- 
siQth.er  ;  nor  i.s  there  a  fm-il  Deoree  of  Contention  a- 
SBor.?  u- :  Our  re)  j^iouJ  Debates  are  the  common  To- 
^^  of  Ccrcverfutioa  with  ali. 

And  thpn>  What  was  naturally  confcquent  upoa 
!fh:e  Chu  CT  of  CAoriritJf's  fa1lin°r  into  divers  Sedis  and 
Fartiti,  they  yrere  gui'ty  of  averyfinful  exaltingthofe 
!\'e'>  who  vvere  at  the  Head  of  their  Sects,  above  the 
F.2.CS  of  Ir (if  assents  j  aad  fstiing  thsm  up  ia  the  Room 

a. 


Conjlder'd  and  Imprcv'd.  5 

of  GOD,  J5S  tho'  they  conid  impart  Faith  and  Salva- 
tion to  their  Followers  :  Hence  the  ApofHe  addreffeth 
them  in  the  $d  Chapter  5th,  6th  and  7th  Fer/es.  Nor 
can  vveexcufe  ourfelves  in  this  Point  ;  for  the  Perfonj 
of  Tome  have  been  evidently  had  in  Admiration ; 
and  they  have  been  fee  above  the  Place  of  Means  and 
Inftruments. 

Nor  was  the  Church  of  Corinth  free  from  uncha- 
ritable Judging  and  Cenfuring  one  another;  and  even 
the  Apoftle  himfelf  was  not  fpared,  but  fell  under 
their  Cenfures  ;  and  therefore  he  lets  them  know,  ic 
was  afmall  Matter  to  be  judged  of  them  or  any  other, 
Cbapt.  4.  /^t/ 3,  4,  5.  And  I  need  not  fpend  Time 
to  Ihow  you  how  tar  this  Evil  of  Judging  and  Con- 
demning our  Brother  is  fpread  smongft  uf. 

And  in  the  Church  cf  Ccrinth  there  was  a  Difpofi- 
tion  in  many  to  defplfe  and  reject  thofe  Minifter?,  who 
had  been  labouring  amongft  them  ;  and  by  whcfe  Mi- 
niftry  they  had  believed  ;  and  to  heap  to  themfelvea 
Teachers  of  more  Eloquence,  greater  Zeal  and  Gifts  as 
they  imagined  :  And  hence  the  Apoftle  reproves  them, 
2S  he  dees  in  the  r3th,  14th,  15th,  r6th  Verfes  of  the 
4th  Chapter.  And  who  can  be  ignorant  that  it  ha.? 
been  too  much  [the  Temper  amonglt  U>,  to  lay  aFde 
ftated  Minifters*  of  the  Gofpel,  and  to  fet  up  Novices 
without  end  to  be  our   Teachers  ? 

Again,  Difcipline  in  the  Church  of  Ccrinth  \va?  al- 
molt  wholly  ncgleded  ;  they  were  grown  fo  concei- 
ted of  their  Attainments,  that  they  would  not  fubmit 
to  Order  :  Offenders  could  not  be  called  to  an  Account : 
And  even  a  notorious  Fornicator  was  le:  alone:  See 
the  5th  Chapter.  And  how  greatly  is  Church-Difci- 
pline  deftroyed  in  many  Places  with  us  :  Seme  are 
grown  fo  zealous  and  conceited  of  their  own  Graces, 
that  they  cannot  be  brought  to  fubmit  to  the  Order  of 
Churches ;  and  even  defpife  Reproof. 

So  alfo  in  the  Church  of  Corinth  there  was  a  Dif- 

pofitionto  abufe  th«  Liberty  of  the  Gofpel  5  and  thereby 

"^         "  diilblve 


4  ne  great  Luty  of  C  HARIT  Y 

diflblve  the  civil  Relations  of  Life  :  The  Wife  to  de- 
part from  the  Hasband,  and  the  Servant  to  rebel  a- 
gaiRft  the  Mafter,  under  a  Pretence  of  chriftian  (liberty  : 
And  this  moved  the  Apoftle  to  write  as  he  did  in  the 
7th  Chapter  from  the  i3th  to  2 2d  Verfe.  And  it  is 
v/ell  known  there  has  been  fomething  of  this  Spirit  in 
our  Land  :  Some  have  been  upon  the  Point  of  break- 
ing the  Bands  of  chefe  Relative  Duties  bccaufa  of  Uncon- 
verfion  ;  the  Wife  to  forfake  the  Husband,  and  the 
Servant  difobey  his  Mafter. 

Again,  We  may  obferve  in  the  Church  of  Corinth 
an  unbecoming  StifFnefs  and  Unyieldablenefs  towards 
one  another  j  not  avoiding  the  Occafions  of  Offence  to 
one  ano^-hers  Co  fcience,  as  they  ought  to  have  done  ; 
fome  would  eac  Part  of  thofe  Beafts  which  were  flain 
to  be  facrificed  to  Idols,  and  perhaps  in  the  Idol's  Tem- 
ple with  their  Worfhippcrs,  faying  an  Idol  was  nothing; 
however  cfFc;nfive  it  was  co  Tome  others;  therefore  it  is 
the  Apoftle  gives  them  fuch  Directions  in  the  SthChap- 
ter  io:h  Ferfe  to  the  end.  And  can  we  excufe  our 
felves  in  this  Point  ?  Have  we  avoided  giving  Offence 
to  one  another  ;  and  carefully  abftained  from  Things 
indifferent  becaufeoffjnfive  toothers? 

It  is  alfo  eafily  obferved  from  the  Apoftle,  that  there 
was  too  great  SparingneG  towards  the  Miniftcrs  of  the 
Gofpel,  who  imparted  fpiritual  Things  to  them  :  Yea, 
it  leem„>  it  became  a  Qiieflion  with  fome,  whtther  they 
were  oblig'd  to  contribute  for  the  Support  of  Mini- 
fter?,fince  the  Spirit  was  {0  plentifully  poured  out.-  And 
hence  the  Apofile  anfwers  them,  who  put  the  Queffcion 
to  him,  in  the  pth  Chapter  from  P'erfe  3,10  14  And  ic 
is  too  true  of  us  in  this  Land  (in  fome  Part)  of  it  at 
left  )  notwithftanding  ail  the  Revival  ci  Religion. 
There  is  a  greater  Backwardnefs  to  the  Support  of  Mini- 
fters  than  ever  ;  zs  tho'  an  extraordinary  Degree  of 
Zeal  excus'd  People  from  fupporting  their  Miniftcrs. 

Again,  In  the  Church  of  Corinth  there  was  the  ^'if- 
order  of  leaving  the  proper  Bufinefs,  and  Calling  GOD 
had  put  thsmin,  and  inYadingthQ  Province  anci  Bufinefs 

of 


Conjidered  and  Applied.  $ 

cf  another.  They  uere  guilty  of  a  prord,  afpiring 
Humour,  which  encHn'd  them  to  fet  up  for  Teachers 
in  the  Church  ;  And  hence  the  Apofllc  exhorts  them 
in  the  7th  Chapter,  Ver.  20,  21.  And  expoftuJates 
with  them  with  warmth  in  the  12th  Chapter,  Vtr  28, 
2pi  30  And  who  is  ignorant  that  this  has  been,  and 
is  ftiil  our  Cafe  ?  What  Numbers  of  illiterare  Teach- 
ers have  thruft  themfelves  into  the  Churches  \ 

Nor  was  the  Church  o(  Corhth  free  of  all  Pride  and 
Vain-gloryino;  in  their  Religious  Matters:  They  indul- 
ged  rpiritualPride,nnd  this  it  was  that  ftirred  up  fomuch 
Contention.  The  Apoftle  tells  us  they  were  puffed  up 
one  againft  another,  5th  Chapter  2d  Firfe.  They  glo- 
ried in  their  Gifts  and  Attainment?,  and  were  forward 
to  difcover  them  ;  fo  that  many  prophccied  together  ; 
And  would  to  GOD  we  had  been  more  free  from  fpi- 
ritual  Pride  and  vain  Oftentation  in  Religion  !  Who  is 
icrnorant  ?  There  has  been  no  fmall  Appearance  of  it 
in  the  Worfliip  of  GOD's  Houfc  ? 

Soalfo  the  Church  of  Corinth  fell  into  great  Irregu- 
larities and  Difordcrs  in  their  religisus  Aflemblie^  ;  fe- 
veral  taught  and  exhorted  at  the  fame  Time.  The 
WoBaenlaid^  afide  thtir  female  Modefty,  and  (tt  up  to 
be  Teachers  in  the  Church  :  l^herefore  the  ApoltJe 
direct:?  them  as  he  does  in  the  r4th  Chapter  from  the 
goth  to  the  35th  Verfe.  And  who  is  fo  blind  that  he 
cannot  fee  our  Diforders  defcribcd  as  in  a  Glafi  by 
the  Apofile  in  this  Chapter. 

And  once  more,  by  way  of  Comparifon,  The  Church 
of  Ccrintb  was  -under  the  Judgments  of  GOD  for 
thefe  Things;  fee  the  nth  Chapter,  Tfr/l?  30,31,  32. 
And  have  we  not  reaibn  to  fear  GOD  is  angry  with 
us  at  this  Day,  for  the  many  Things  which  have  been 
amifs :  And  let  u3  confider  v/herefore  it  is  his  Judg- 
ments are  ftill   continued  in  many  Refpeds. 

Having  thus  confidered  what  the  Aooftle  fays  of 
the  Church  oi  Corinth  ;  I  ask  Liberty  of  my  Hearers 
to  nialce  one  Remark,  ^/>.  *<  That  the  AdoRIq  Paul 

li  «*  in 


6  Tie  great  Duty  of  CHARITY 

'•  in  the  Jndgment  of  fome  modern  Teachers,  was  the 
«'  greatefi:  Oppofer  that  Religion  ever  had  ;  for  he  in 
<'  the  firft  Place  acknowledges  the  Operations  of  the 
"  divine  Spirit  in  the  Church  of  Cortntr.,  and  then 
"  proceeds  to  enumerate,  and  bear  a  full  Tefliraony 
*'  againft  all  the  Extravagancies  they  were  guilty  of  i 
"  nor  did  he  think  he  dilterved  Religion  by   it.  '* 

What  I   have  hitherto  faid,   may  ferve  both  to  let 
you  fee  the  the  Reafbn  of  the  Apoftlc  his  recommen- 
ding Charity,  and  giving  of  it  fo  high  an  Encominm   ; 
and    alfo  juftify  me  in   oftiring  the    Words    read   to 
your  ferious  Confideration. 

The  Apoftle  allowed  the  Corinthians  to  covet  ear- 
mfily  the  heft  Gifts  ;  but  yet,  fays  he,  1  fiew  you  a  more 
excellent  J'Vay^  izih  Chapter  laft  Ferfe  ;  a  more  excellent 
Way  for  Peace,for  Order,for  Edification,and  to  recover 
them  from  their  Diforders  and  Confufions ;  and  this  he 
Jets  ua  knov/  is  Charity  :  And  he  told  them,  and 
now  tells  us,  that  without  Charity  we  are  nothing  : 
Notwithftanding  all  our  Gifts,  if  \vq  have  not  Charity 
we  sre  no  real  Chriftians  ;  nothing  but  empty  Noife 
and  Sound.  The  Dothine  I  fliall  fpeak  to  from  the 
Words  before  us  is, 

DOCT.  TH  AT  whatever  Attainments  we  may  ar^ 
rive  to  in  Religiotj,  if  we  are  void  of  Charily  ^  we 
are  no  real  Chriftians ;  nor  will  they  profit  ui  any 
Thing, 

tJnder  this  Dof!rin»  I  propofe  thefe  Thing"?, 

ift.  To  open  the  Nature  of  this  Charity^  which  is  fo 

necefpiry  in  oar  Religion. 
sdly,  'Tojhow  that  Men  may  go  great  Lengths  in  Re- 

ligicn,  and  yet  have  nothing  of  this  Charity. 
3dly,     That  all   cur   Attainments  without    Charity^ 

will  neither  make  us  real  Chrifiians  j  nor  profit  u^ 

qny  Thing, 

Lailiy,  Apply  thg  Truth  to  our  felvcs. 

I.  I  ac9 


Ccnfjdefd  and  Applied.  *f 

I.  I  am  in  the  firft  Place  to  open  the  Nature  of  this 
Charitv,  the  Apofile  (o  recommends  ;  and  without 
which^  every  Man,   as  well  as  he  himfelf,    will  be  no- 

I  am  fenfible  that  Ufe  and  Cuftom  in  thefe  latter 
Days  has  confined  the  Term  Charity  to  Alms-Deeds^  or 
giving  our  Wealth  to  thePoor  and  diftrefled  ;  and  foic 
is  only  a  Fruit  or  Effed  of  Charity;  But  that  the  A- 
poftle  does  not  intend  JIms-Derds  by  Charity,  is  evi- 
dent from  theCharader  he  gives  us  of  it  in  the  Ver- 
fes  following  our  Text ;  none  of  which  can  agree 
with  Charity^in  the  vulgar  Senfe  of  the  Word,  and  are 
compatible  only  with  that  D/^/«^ Loz;^  which  is  fo of- 
ten recommended  in  the  Gofpcl. 

«  Charity  then  is  Love  in  the  Gorpel-Latitude, 
<«  comprehending  Love  to  GOD  and  our  Neighbour^  i^ 
^^  all  the  Branches  of  it." 

And  this  Charity  or  divine  Love,  the  Apoftle  tells 
us  is  the  Fruit  of  the  Spirit,  Gal.  5.22.  A  Man  can- 
not poffibly  plant  it  in  his  own  Soul  :  All  his  Care  and 
Pains ;  all  his  religious  Duties  and  Services  ;  all  his 
Prayers  and  Tears,  will  notof  themfelves  fubdue  that 
Enmity  that  is  in  the  Heart  to  GOD,  Rcm.S.y.  and 
bring  the  Soul  to  love  GOD  with  a  true  Love  of  Com- 
placency, and  refling  in  Him  as  a  Being  of  Holinefs  and 
Goodnefs.  Nothing  but  the  Spirit  of  GOD  can  turn  a 
Man  from  being  not  only  an  Enemy  to  GOD,  but  En- 
mity it  felf,  to  love  Him  with  his  whole  Soul;  foaa 
to  make  choice  of  GOD  for  his  Portion  and  Inheritance 

forever,  and  account   his  Favour  better  than  Life. 

I'he  beft  Education  and  the  beft  Mean?,  the  moft  p!- 
ousCounfcls,  and  th^bcft  Difcourfes  concerning  GOD'a 
Goodnefs  and  Mercy  can  never  beget  this  Love  in  U3 
without  the  gracious  Operations  of  the  Div.'ne  Spirit  on 
our  Hearts.     Nor  can  we   without  the  Heia  of  the 

Spirit  ever  love  one  another  in  a  Gofpel  Senfc. We. 

naturally  live  in  Hatred,  Tit  3.  3.  We  may  love  as 
Publicans  did  of  old,  fuch  as  were  Friends  to  them,  Mat. 
t.  46.  But  to  love  all  Men,  even  our  Enemies  as  our 
fclvfs,  is  above  the  utmoft  ftretch  of  human  Natu;ej^ 
*  •■    '  '  B,  2  aad 


8  The  great  Duty  cf  CHARITY 

and  only  the  Spirit  of  Christ  can  enable  us  to  do 
To. 

And  this  Charity  the  Apoftle  lets  us  know  is  a  ne- 
cefTary  Confequenr  and  Attendant  on  Faith  ;  ior  Faith 
works  hy  Love^  Gal.  5  6.  This  Love  never  preceed?, 
bat  always  follows  Faith:  A  Man  cannot  love  as  the 
Gofpel  requires,  before  he  believes  in  Christ  j  but  if 
he  does  believe  he  will  have  this  Chanty  :  They  can- 
not be  feparated  from  each  other,  no  more  than  the 
Caufe  can  frcm  the  Effect:  And  if  we  have  not  Lo've, 
we  may  affure  our  felves  we  are  deftitutc  of  i'/2//;&. 

And,  'the  Apoftle  informs  us,  That  it  is  a  fulfilling 
of  the  Law.  {Rom.  13.  10.)  in  both  the  Tables  of  it. 
Ic  inclines  a  Man  to  a  diligent  Attendance  upon  all 
the  Duties,  which  the  moral  and  revealed  Law  of 
GOD  enjoin  upon  him  towards  his  Maker:  He  loves 
to  fear,  obey,  and  ferve  Him  :  He  loves  to  furmit  to 
h\%  Will  and  attend  his  Worlhip,  and  fpeak:  his 
Praife.  Love  to  GOD  makes  ail  the  Duties  we  owe  him 
cafy  and  delightful.  And  as  he  knows  the  fame  GOD 
that  requires  him  to  fear  and  ferve  him,  has  enjoined 
it  upon  him,  to  do  Juiiice  to  his  Neighbour,  to  fpsac 
the  Truth,  to  be  cautious  and  obligmg  to  all  ;  So 
he  take  Pleafure  in  doing  fo  ;  becaufe  it  is  the  Will 
of  G<0  D  he  fnould.  And  he  is  not  willing  to  cmic 
one  Duty  to  GOD,  or  his  Neighbour  ;  for  Love 
teaches  him  none  of  the  Commands  arc  grievous. 

And,  the  Apoftle  Peter  tells  u?,  this  Love  is  with' 
tnt  Di/Jtmulatfon  and  Difgaife,  r  Pet.  i.  22.  It  con- 
fifts  not  in  .Wcrds,  or  feme  courteous  and  obliging 
Carriage  ;  but  is  feated  in  the  Heart  ;  and  the  truly 
charitable  M^.n  is  really  as  defirous  of  your  Welfare, 
as  he  profefles  to  be  :  He  does  not  fpeak  fmooth 
"Words,  whilft  Gall  and  Bitternefs  is  in  his  Heart  : 
He  is  honeft  and  upright  in  his  Pretenfion?. 

And,  this  Love  is  a  great  Prefervative  to  the  Chrif. 
tian  againft  the  Allurementf,  the  Fiatterie^,  or  Threats 
Qi  ihS  World  i  and  ail  thi  Temptatio.is  of  Satan. 

Hencf. 


Conjidered  and  Applied.  9 

Hence  the  Apoftle  compares  it  to'  a  Breafi-plate^ 
I  Thejfalon.  5.  8  which  prefer ves  the  Heart  from  all 
Wounds  from  the  Enemy.  And  could  we  always 
keep  this  Charity  in  a  lively  Exercife,  how  would  it 
keep  us  from  the  Temptations  of  Earth  aad  Hell  f 

And,  the  Apoftle  afflires  u-^,  That  this  Charity  is  a 
fure  Evidence  of  our  being  torn  cf  God^  i  John  4.  7. 
thereby  we  may  know  whether  Christ  is  formed 
within  US;  whether  all  old  Things  are  pafled  away, 
and  all  Things  become  new  within  us ;  for  none  but 
the  Regenerate  love  GOD  above  every  thing  clfe,  and 
their  Neighbour  in  fincerity  as  themfelves. 

As  to  the  Fruits  and  EfTecls  of  this  Love  :  The 
ApoHile  fets  them  before  us  in  the  Verfes  following 
our  Text  ;  and  they  well  deferve  a  particular  confi- 
deration. 

Charity,  faith  the  Apoftle,  Suffereth  long  ;  it  defers 
Anger,  and  does  not  fuffer  it  loon  to  boil  up  in  the 
Mind,  and  difcover  itfelf  in  bitter  Words,  and  railing 
Accufations.  The  charitable  Man  fets  a  Guard  upon 
himfelf  :  If  he  has  any  Injuries  and  Abufes  offered 
him,  he  turns  his  Refentments  into  Picy,  and  Re- 
venge into  a  rendering  Good  for  Evil. 

It  is  Kind.  It  moves  the  Affedions  towards  fuch  as 
need  our  Pity  and  Companion  ;  It  foftens  oar  Hearts 
into  Compsffion  :  It  unlocks  our  Hands  to  diftributc 
our  Wealth  to  fuch  as  want  our  Alras :  It  docs  not 
fuffcr  a  Man  to  live  to  himfelf;  but  puts  him  upon 
doing  all  the  Good  hz  can,  .and  making  himfelf  as 
cfeful  as  pofTible  to  his  fellow  Cueatures, 

Chanty,  Envieth  not.  In  the  Greek  (auZelo/) 
is  not  Zealous,  (  i.  e  )  Does  not  i^arn  with  Eitternefs 
towards   others.     Are  they  Richer  than   ourfclvcs  ;  it 

ftiff«:r8  us   not  to  be  uneafy.  Are  they   endowed 

with  greater  Parts,  or  have  they  more  Credit  and 
Reputation^  Charity  will  not  fuffcr  us  to  be  bitter  to- 
wards then),  as  tko'they  had  injured  us  :  Do  they  differ 

from 


10  rhe  great  Duty  of  CHARITY 

from  us  in  feme  things?  Charity  don*t  allow  us  to 
call  for  Fire  from  Heaven  to  confome  them.  It  will 
not  fufFdr  us  to  parfue  them  with  Warmth  and  Bitter- 
nefb.  Charity  teacherh  us  Mildnefs  and  Gentlenefs  to- 
wards them. 

Charity  v^untefh  net  itfelf;  or  it  maybe  rendered, 
dees  not  a^  ^^fl^h-  T\\^  charitable  Man  does  not 
defpife  the  Counsel  of  the  Wife  and  Aged:  He  is  not 
refolute  in  his  own  Purpofes,  in  Oppoficion  to  all  others : 
He  qaeftions  h-mfr/.f,  and  is  ready  to  prefer  the  Jadg- 
ment  of  others  to  his   own. 

Is  not  puffed  up:  If  he  is  Rich,  he  does  not  value 
himfelf  for  it,  and  defpife  the  Poor  ;  for  his  Heart  is 
not  fet  upoT)  this  World.  Is  he  honoured  and  applau- 
ded in  the  World;  He  does  not  fwell  with  thefe  emp- 
ty Titles,  for  he  fees  they  are  Vanity. Has  he  grea- 
ter Gifts  or  Graces  than  others,  he  blelTc^s  GOD  for 
them  ;  ^ind  does  not  allow  himfelf  to  be  proud  of  them; 
ior  he  knows  it  is  by  the  Gr-ice  of  GOD,  that  he  is 
What  he  is  :  And  he  has  not  made  himfelf  to  difr«;r. 

Doth  not  behave  it  [elf  unf  emly^  or  indecently  or 
ttnhcautifully  ;  but  is  a  careful  Obferver  of  Order  and 
Decency  in  all  Things:  It  tesches  Men  to  reverenc^ 
the  Superioiir^  to  be  courteous  and  kind  to  Equals 
and  Inferiours.  —  The  charitable  Man  obferver  the  Di- 
re Clion  of  the  Apofile,  Chapter  14,  ^^r.  40.  He  does 
rot  cry  out  of  Order,  as  hurtful  to  Religion,  and  a 
P?gon  that  is  to  be  thrown  down  and  deltroyed.  He 
dees  not  bring  ferlouis  Things  into  all  Companies  and 
Places,  to  be  Iccfred  at  and  reproached.  He  is  not 
willing  to  expofe  his  holy  Religion  to  the  needlcfs  Re- 
proach of  the  Propharie. 

Charity  fceketh  nether  own.  This  Gofpel  Love  does 
not  fuffer  a  Man  to  look  altogether  at  his  own  Things ; 
but  dirpofeth  him  to  have  regard  to  the  Good  of  his 
Neighbour,  Phil.  2.  4.  And  in  many  Things  Charity 
terc^es  Men  to  forego  their  own  Profit  and  Advan- 
tao-e  for  the  Good  of  others. 


Conjidered  and  Applied.  1 1 

/;  not  eafily  provoked.  Charity  calms  the  Mind,  fo 
that  the  P  ffions  are  net  eafily  ftirred  up  and  carried 
forth  to  wrong  Objeds—  And  could  we  always  have 
our  Love  to  GOD  and  one  another  in  exercife  :  How 
nluch  above  thefe  fmall  Injarie  and  Provccaticnsfhould 
we  bef*  It  would  noc  be  an  eafy  Matter  tofiir  up  An- 
ger and  Revenge  in  our  Minds  :  Like  Christ  we 
Ihould  tear  long  and  pray  our  heavenly  Father  to  for- 
give fuch  as  defpitetully  ufe  u?. 

It  thinketh  no  evil :  It  b.inifhes  Jealoufiesand  Sufpi- 
cions  Ircm  the  Mind.  Itdo':^  nor  TufFer  us  to  fufpecl 
a  Man  as  vile  and  wicked,  when  he  dees  not  appear  fo. 
The  charitable  Man  will  not  entertain  low  and  bafe 
Thoughts  cf  his  Neighbour,  when  he  can  think  ho- 
nourably and  well  of  him  i  he  is  careful  to  think  the 
beffc  he   can. 

Nor  does  the  truly  charitaVe  Man  rejoice  'when  Sin 
IS  prevalent,  and  the  Iniquities  ot  Mankind  abound  : 
He  is  forry  when  Vice  \t  practifed  openly,  and  Righ- 
teoufnefs  is  treated  with  Contempt:  Nor  is  he  glad  at 
the  Calamity  of  others  :  it  is  no  pleafure  to  him  to  fee 
Men  evil  entreated,  injured  andabufed:  But  he  ejoi- 
ceth  when  the  Fighteous  profper,  and  are  accounted 
honourable  amongfl  Men  ;  when  Truth  prevails  in 
the  Power  of  it:  And  he  takes  Pleafure  in  the  Inno- 
cent's being  vindicated  from  all  thofc  Afperfions  which 
have  been  cafl  on  them. 

Charity  leareth  all  things  ;  or  a?  it  ought  to  be 
rendered,  covereth  or  conceaMh  all  things  :  It  does  not 
allow  us  to  divulge  the  Errors  and  Miftakes,  the 
Infirmities  and  the  Failings  of  our  Brother  :  It  teach- 
cth  to  caft  a  Mantle  over  them  ;  that  they  may  bs 
hid  ffom  the  World  j  that  Men  may  not  hate  and 
reproach  him. 

And  the  charitable  Man  is  ready  to  believe  alt 
things  well  concerning  his  Brother  :  Is  any  thing 
fpoke  in  his  Praife  and  Commendation,  be  believes  it 
Is  true.    He  does  no5  fay,  he  don't  think  he  can  fpealc 

cr 


12  The  great  Duty  of  CHARITY 

or  do  To  well  :  He  believes  all  things  that  there  may 
be  any  Foundation  for:  If  fee  lives  Honeftly,  he  beHeves 
him  to  be  fo  :  If  he  lives  like  a  Chriftian,  he  believes 
him  to  be  fo  indeed. 

And  when  there  are  fome  Things  to  dagger  his 
Faith  concerning  his  Brother  j  yet  then  he  keeps  up 
his  Hepe :  Is  he  fpolce  evil  of,  he  hopes  he  is  Inno- 
cent :  Does  he  err  in  fome  Things,  he  hopes  it  is 
nor  wilfuU  :  Does  he  fail  in  his  Duty,  he  hopes  not- 
withftanding  he  is  a  good  Man,  until  it  is  too  evident 
that  Sin  is  his  Delight  and  what  he  allows  himfelf  in. 
— And  it  is  a  plain  Breach  of  Charity,  to  think  our 
Neighbour  unconverted  and  a  Sinner,  when  his  Life 
1%  fuch,  that  we  may  hope  he  is  a  real  Chriftian. 

Charity  evdureth  all  tlir.gs.  It  difpofeth  a  Man  to 
bear  all  Manner  of  ill  Treatment,  with  Patience  : 
If  we  have  this  Love  of  G  O  D  in  our  Hearts,  how 
eafy  will  it  be  to  be  Poor  and  Low  ?  Divine  Love 
will  yeild  us  more  Satisfadion  than  all  the  World  : 
How  light  a  Thing  will  Reproach  and  Slander  be,  if 
we  have  Love  in  our  Hearts  ?  How  little  will  it  af- 
fedl  us  to  be  fpoken  all  manner  of  Evil  of?  Love  will 
make  the  moft  sbufive  Treatment  eafy,  —  If  we  have 
Charity,  we  fhan'c  think  hard  to  be  made  the  OfF-fcou- 
ring  of  all  Things  ;  we  Ihall  not  greatly  difturb  our 
lelves  let  Men  fay  or  think  what  they  will  about  us. 

And  this  Charity,  if  it  be  once  implanted  in  our 
Hearts,  it  will  never  wholly  fail  and  die  ;  we  may 
lofe  it  very  much  as  to  the  Exercife  of  it  ;  but  it 
never  will  wholly  ceafe,  hut  will  be  as  a  IVell  of  fVa^ 
ier  fprinyjng  up  to  everlajJing  Life  :  When  we  die, 
we  Hiall  carry  it  into  the  other  World  with  us. 
Faithy  as  it  refpects  future  Things,  will  ceafe,  and  end 
in  VifiJii.  Hope  will  end  alfo  in  Fruition.  But,  Charity 
will  not  leave  us ;  but  will  abide  with  us  throughout 
the  endlefs  Ages  of  Eternity  ;  and  on  this  Account 
it  is  greater  than  Faitb  and  Hope,  v.  i$. 


'      Cofifider'd  and  Applied.  1% 

Bnt  I  proceed,  Secondly^  to  confider  that  Men  may 
go  great  lengths  in  Religion  and  yet  be  void  of  Charity. 
So  the  Apofile  fuppcfcs  in  the  Wo'ds  under  Confide- 
ration^  that  he  might  [peak  with  the  Tofigue  cf  Men 
and  Angels  ;  that  he  might  have  the  Gift  of  Prophecy^ 
under fl and  all  Mifieries^  and  all  Knowledge  ;  that  he 
might  have  the  Faith  of  Miracles,  Co  as  to  remove 
Mountains  into  the  midfi  of  Seas.,  and  yety  after  all, 
have  nothing  of  this  Love  to  God,  and  his  Neighbour. 
I  May  mention  feme  things  Men  may  attain  ro,  and 
yet  not  have  this  Love  the  Apoftle  fpeaks  of. 

A  Man  may  be  under  very  great  ConviBton  for 
Sin^  and  have  a  Jively  Apprehenfion  of  his  Danger, 
and  the  Wrath  of  God,  which  his  Sins  have  expofed 
him  to  :  He  may  be  under  great  Horror  and  Amaze' 
menty  fo]asto  cry'^out,  The  Pangs  of  Hell  have  gat  hold 
on  me.  He  may  cryjout  in  the  Anguilh  and  Bitterncfs 
of  his  Spirit  :  His  Fkfli  may  tremble,  and  his  Heart 
be  ready  to  melt  within  Hm,  and  yet  be  void  of 
Charity.  It  is  granted  that  Convidicn  precceds  Ccn- 
verfion  ;  and  evangelical  Love  follows  it :  And  it  is 
certain,  Convidion?,  yea  very  ftrong  ones  too,  do  feme- 
times  prove  abortive,  and  don't  ifTue  in  Converficn  ; 
and  confequently  Love  is  not  the  confequent  ot 
them.  Cam  had  ftrong  Convidions  ;  faid,  his  Punifj- 
tnent  was  greater  than  he  could  bear.  Lamech  was  un- 
der great  Diftref^^  for  his  Sin.  Judas  hanged  h'mfelf 
iw  the  extremity  of  his  Horror  ,•  yet  neither  of  them 
had  the  leaft  Spark  of  this  Divine  Love.  Convicftion 
then  is  not  a  Proof  a  Man  has  Charity. 

So  alfo  a  Man'  may  reform  his  Life,  abandon  his 
former  finful  Courfes ;  and  become  fober,  grave,  and 
temperate  in  his  A(5tions  ;  and  yet  have  no'^Charity  ac 
all.  There  are  many  Things  may  urge  a  Man  to 
reform  his  Life  :  A  Fear  of  Hell,  which  he  fees  his 
Sin  cxpofes  him  to  ;  the  Uneafinefi  of  his  Confcience, 
fear  of  Difgrace,  or  of  the  Punilhmenc  of  the  Magif- 
trate,  may  put  him  upon  a  more]  fober  Life  ;  and  yet 
he  have  no  Love  to  GOD  ;  and  hence  it  is  too  too 
common    fuch   return  again   to  their  former  Courfe?, 

C  hk» 


t4  ^^e great  Duty  of  CHAKITY 

like  thd  Sew  that  wai  wafloed^  to  her  wallowing  in  tht 
Mire,  and  the  Dog  to  bis  vomit  ;  and  the  evil  Spirit 
returns  into  them  again,  and  has  more  Power  over 
them  than  ever  :  But  if  they  had  this  Love  of  GOD 
in  their  Hearts  they  could  not  have  fo  finned  ;  for 
their  Seed  would  have  remained  in  them. 

Again,  A  Man  may  be  very  Zealous^  and  yet  be 
void  of  this  evangelical  Love.  Zeal  is  nothing  but  the 
Ardour  of  the  AfFedticns,  or  the  cngagednefs  of  the 
Powers  of  the  Soul  ;  and  a  Man  may  be  zealous  in 
a  had  Caufe,  as  well  as  a  good  one  j  and  even  in  Re- 
ligion itfeif.  A  Man  may  be  fired  with  Zeal,  who 
h  a  Stranger  to  viral  Piety,  and  the  Love  of  GOD- 
The  Pride  of  a  Man's  own  Heart  may  fire  his  AfFec* 
tions,  and  blow  him  up  into  a  burning  Zeal.  Educa- 
tion may  infpire  a  Man  with  a  great  Degree  of  it. 
A  Man's  own  Intereft  may  fill  him  with  it.  Thus 
Jehu  was  all  Zeal  for  the  Lord  of  Hoft?,  when  he 
wa?  actuated  by  nothing  but  his  own  ambitious  Views; 
and  never  felt  the  ieaft  Spark  of  the  Fire  of  divine 
Love  in  his  Heart.  Who  more  zealous  than  the 
VPi^Sl?  ?  And  few  or  none  in  our  Land  have  yec 
equali'd  them  ;  but  who  can  think  many  of  thetn 
have  the  leaffc  Love  to  GOD.  2)eal  is  therefore  no 
Evidence  of  Regeneration,  and  the  Love  of  GOD  in 
the  Soul. 

Furthermore,  A  Man  may  be  greatly  diftrejfed  and 
C'^nrerned  f^r  others  ;  and  yet  have  no  Love  to  GOD 
fiim''elf.  How  common  is  it,  when  Perfons  are 
under  Convidons  for  Sin,  and  feeking  their  own 
Salvation,  to  look  with  Pity  on  their  Friends  and 
Companions,  who  have  no  ferious  Tho'tfulnefs  about 
their  own  Souls  ?  x^nd  thefc  Perfons  when  they  have 
fe'c  the  Workings  of  their  religious  Affections,  may 
(  feme  of  them  at  Ieaft  )  miftake  thera  for  Grace  in 
the  Heart  ;  and  haftily  conclude  their  own  State  is 
fiife  ;  a:nd  novy  all  their  Concern  is  for  others  :  They 
nvay  be  in  great  Concern  for  them*  ind  have  not  the 
lealt  Fear  about  their  €wn  State  ;  and  we  have  reafon 
to  [ear  this  ha2  bee  a  lometiwes  the  Cafe  when  they 

have 


Confidered  and  Applied.  ig 

have     had    nothing   of  the  Love  of  GOD  ixi  their 
Hearts. 

And  what  is  conTquent  upon  their  hoping  theirCon- 
dition  is  fafe,  is  a  J^y  and  Delight  in  fuch  a  Confide- 
ration  :  All  which  may  be  when  they  are  c'eceived, 
and  do  not  love  GOD.  Men  may  take  fome  Pleafure 
and  Satisfadlion  in  religious  Dudes  who  are  not  Rege- 
nerate, and  confequcntly  do  not  love  GOD :  Thus  our 
Saviour  tells  us  of  fome  who  beard  the  PVord  with  Joy 
for  aSeafon^  Matth.  13.  rp,2o.  And  the  Apoftle  tells 
us  of  fome  who  have  taftedofthe  good  fP'ord  ofGOD^ 
and  the  hcwen  of  the  IVorldto  come-,  and  yer  might  faJi 
away,  Heb.  6.  5,6.  The  Prophet  Ezekiel,  was  as  a 
hvely  Seng  to  a  People  who  did  not  love  GOD. 

And  this  Joy  n\ay  fometimes  arife  to  fuch  aheighth, 
and  be  (o  fadden  as  to  be  called  a  Rapture  or  Trance  ; 
and  yet  they  who  feel  the  fame  be  wholly  ignorant  of 
the  Love  of  GOD.-  The  Imagination mzy he  raifedto 
a  great  Pitch ;  and  wonderful  Things  may  be  painted 
upon  the  Mind  :  The  Ideas  msy  be  lively,  and  theRe- 
prefentation  pleiflng  ;  and  yet  there  may  be  no  Love 
of  GOD  in  the  Heart:  This  was  the  Cafe  of  Balaam  ^ 
he  was  in  a  Trance,  Numb.  24.,  beg.  ;  but  who  ever  i- 
magined  him  a  true  Lover  of  GOD  I 

A  Man  may  alfo  attain  to  2  great  Degree  of  Know- 
ledge in  religious  Matters ;  and  yet  have  no  real  Charity  ° 
So  the  Apoftle  fupppfes  in  the  Text.  A  Man  may  by 
long  Study  an(^  clofe  Application  attain  a  great  Degree 
of  Speculation  ;  he  may  difpute  ]earnedly,and  diftinguifh 
well  in  the  important  Points  of  Divinity  :  He  may 
vnfold  many  important  Truths;  reconcile  many  Teem- 
ing Opppfitions  in  the  Word  of  GOD  ;  and  yet  have 

no  love  to  GOD,  nor  his  Word. And  fome  have 

by  a  careful  Study  of  the  Scriptures,  and  attentive  hea«"' 
ing  the  Word  preached,  when  under  Convid^ions,  in  a. 
few  Weeks,  made  fuch  Progrefs,  that  th^y  would  £alk 
wondcrfuJly  of  Things  they  knew  nothing  about  be- 
fore ;  and  yet  after  a  while  raamfcfted  themfdve*  Str^a- 
gers  to  a  Love  to  GOD. 


t6  The  great  Duty  of  CHARITY 

And  many  have  attained  to  afurprizing  Art  t^i  ad- 
drejjing  the  Pafftons :  They  have  been  able  to  command 
the  greareft  Attention  ;  have  talked  as  tho'  they  had 
the  Tongues  of  Angels,  and  yet  knew  nothing  »xperi- 
mentally  of  the  Love  of  GOD  and  Christ  :  Some 
Popifh  Mi/Honaries  will  ftir  up  all  the  Paffions,  and  yet 
ignorant  of  GOD  aad  Christ.  And  feme  of  you 
may  remember  here,  many  Years  paft.  a  vagrant  Prea- 
cher addreft  you,with  all  the  Force  of  Oratory,  and  drew 
away  your  Ears  andftirred  up  all  your  Paffions ;  and 
yet  I  believe  none  of  you  in  the  End  fuppofed  him  to 
bavc  theleaft  Spark  of  divine  Love.* 

Others  have  counterfeited  all  Grace^  and  yet  have 
been  Strangers  to  this  Charity  :  They  have  appeared 
exceeding  Meek  j  fpeaking  meanly  of  Themfelves,  and 
all  their  Duties ;  they  have  profefs'd  to  be  wholly  wea- 
ned from  the  World,  and  all  its  Enjoyments  ;  they 
have  talked  much  of  vital  Piety,  of  the  Love  of  GOD 
and  Christ  ;  they  have  Teemed  to  exceU  in  Holinefs 
and  Heavenly-mindednef^;  but  in  the  End  have  'dif- 
cover'd  themfelves  to  be  Wolves  in  Sheep's- Cloathing, 
They  deceived  the  World,  and  psrhaps  Themfelves 
too. 

And  they  naay  go  fuch  a  length  in  Religion,  be  fo 
conftant  in  Duties;  and  ftir  up  their  own  Paffions  and 
AfFcdions,  till  they  are  confident  of  their  gocdEftate  ; 
and  have  banifhed  all  Doubts  and  Fears  out  of  their 
Mind,  and  yet  know  not  what  it  is  to  love  GOD  and 
Christ.  Confidence  is  no  Evidence  GOD  loves  us, 
nor  we  Him  :  Who  more  affiired  of  their  good  E- 
fiate  than  the  Pharifees  ^  They  defpifed  Christ's 
Admonition  to  efcape  the  Wrath  of  GOD:  They  told 
him  they  were  Children  of  Abraham ;  and  queftion'd 
not  the  Love  of  GOD  to  them  ;  but  after  all  their 
Confidence,  they  were  a  Gt  neration  of  Vipers. 

Again,  A  Man  may  take  Pleafure  in  difiributing  his 
Goods  to  the  Poor  :  He  may  give  largely  in  charitable 

*  One   il/tfj?. 


Confidered  and  Applied.  ry 

Ufes ;  he  may  baild  and  adorn  Churches ;  he  may  give 
a  vaft  Eftate,  even  all  his  Goods^  to  feed  the  Poor  ;  a 
natural  Tendernefs  of  Heart,  E.iucation,  Cuftora,  Pride, 
and  other  Things  may  move  him  to  this,  and  yet  he 
have  no  real  Love  to  GOD  :  He  may  give  much  to 
be  feen  of  Men,  that  he  may  have  much  Applaufc 
from  the  World. 

And  laftly,  and  to  add  no  more  here,  A  Man  may 
arrive  to  fuch  a  Zeal  in  religious  Matters,  that  he  may 
Glory  in  Tribulation;  rejoice  in  Stripes  j  he  may  gofing- 
ing  to  a  Goal,  and  prefer  it  to  a  Palace  ;  he  may  even 
long  to  ("uffer  Pcrfecution,  and  pray  that  it  may  come 
upon  him  ;  and  yet  have  nothing  of  this  Charity:  How 
many  popr  deluded  Roman  Catholjcks  have  gloried  in 
Perfecution,  and  tho't  they  merited  Heaven  by  it? 
How  many  Self-deceived  Quakers  have  run  into  Pcr- 
fecution being  impatient  to  fuffer  for  Religion  :  And 
the  Apoftle  fuppofes  a  Man  may  give  bis  Body  to  be 
turned  f  and  yet  have  no  Charity. 

Thus  I  have  conHdered  many  Things  a  Man  may 
attain  to  and  yet  have  no  Charity. 

I  proceed,  7tirdly,  To  (how  you,  That  if  be  bas  all 
ihefe  Attainments  and  many  more  i  yet  if  he  has  no  Cha- 
rity^ he  is  no  real  Chriftian  ^  and  they  will  profit  him 
nothing. 

Firft^  After  all.  He  is  no  real  Chriflian  without 
Charity.  I  am  nothings  fays  the  Apoftle,  (i.e.)  no- 
thing of  a  Chriftian.  He  may  be  one  to  Appearance ; 
the  World  may  judge  him  fuch  ;  he  may  have  a 
great  ^ame  to  live,  yet  he  is  nothing  in  reality  j  he 
is  but  empty  Noife  and  Sound. 

For,  after  all  his  Attainment?,  he  is  an  Enemy  ta 
GOD  in  his  Heart  if  he  has  not  Charity.  He  that 
lovetb  not,  is  not  horn  of  God  ;  and  every  one  who 
is  not  born  of  God,  is  full  of  Enmity  aga'inft  Him^ 
Rom.  S.  7.  And  is  it  poflible  a  Man  Ihould  be  a 
real  and  thoro'  Chriftian,  who  hates  GOD  ?  If  he  hates 
•  the  Father  will  he  love  the  Son,  fubmit  himfelf  to  hi- 

Go. 


1 8  rhe  great  Duty  c/ CHARITY 

Government,  and  follow  his  Example  ?  This  cannot 
be  J  for  GOD  the  Father  and  Son  are  One  ;  and  he 
who  cannot  fubjeft  himfelf  to  the  Laws  of  one,  can- 
not to  the  Laws  of  the  other. 

Nor  has  that  Man,  who  is  void  of  Chanty,  that 
Meeknefs  which  is  neceflary  in  order  to  our  being 
real  Chriftians :  A  proud,  arrogant  Chriftian,  who  has 
not  learned  of  Christ  to  be  Meek  and  Lowly  in 
Hearty  feems  to  carry  a  Contradiction  ;  and  it  is  cer- 
tain, that  a  Man  is  no  more  than  a  nominal  Chriftian^ 
who  has  not  a  meek  and  quiet  Spirit  dwelling  within 
him. 

A  Man  who  does  not  Love  GOD  is  not  Heavenly- 
minded,  as  a  Chriftian  muft  be  :  How  can  he  have  his 
Hopes  and  Defires,  his  Expectation  and  his  Convert 
fation  in  Heaven,  where  GOD  is,  whom  he  don't 
love,  and  looVs  upon  as  his  Enemy  ?  He  will  not 
have  his  Thoughts  and  Views  there,  if  he  don't  love 
GOD. 

Nor  is  it  poiiible  He  Ihould  aim  at  tie  Glory  of 
GOD  in  all  his  Ways  and  Behaviour  as  a  Chriftian  is 
required  to  do,  if  he  has  not  this  Charity.  He  never 
will  feelc  the  Honour  and  Glory  of  an  Enemy  :  Self 
will  he  the  ultimate  End  of  all  hisAdions;  The  great 
Idol  of  Self  will  fwallow  up  all  his  Views,  and  employ 
all  his  A(^ions,  and  GOD  will  be  negledtcd  fo  long 
as  l:.e  don't   love  hir:^. 

'  And  fo  long  as  he  is  deftitute  of  the  love  of  GOD, 
he  will  be  void  of  all  true  evangelical  Repentance  : 
He  may  have  a  legal  Repentance,  and  mourn  for  Sin 
as  it  expofes  him  to  eternal  Pain  and  Torment  :  But 
jf  he  does  not  love  GOD,  he  never  will  mourn  over 
his  Sins,  as  they  are  againft  a  holy,  merciful  and 
righteous  GOD.  Trne  evangelical  Repentance  always 
follows  the  Love  of  GOD  ;  and  the  Soul  repents  be- 
cauje  it  loves  GOD3  and  Is  grieved  that  it  baa  ofiend-, 
ed  Him. 

No?. 


Confider'd  and  Applied,  i9 

Nor  lias  the  Man,  void  of  Charity,  any  faving 
Fatth— .Faith  works  by  Love  ;  and  if  there  is  no  Love^^ 
there  is  no  Ftf;Vi^,  where  there  is  not  the  o«^,  there  is 
not  the  cf *^r  ;  for  GOD does;not  feparate  them.  When 
he  begets  Faith  in  our  Souls  by  his  Spirit,  he  givesja 
livincT  operating  Faith  ;  and  the  neceflary  Fruit  of  that 
is  Lovt  Thus  you  fee  a  Man  if  he  has  not  Charity, 
will  be  nothing  of  a  real  Chrifiian. 

Secondly  y  I  am  to  confider.  That  ell  our  Attainments 
in  Religion,  if  we  are  void  of  Chariry,  will  profit  us 
nothing  at  all. 

They  never  will  fatlsfy  the  Demands  of  that  Law 
we  are  under  the  ftrongeft  Obligations  to  yield  a  per- 
ffitt  Obedience  to  :  The  Law  denounces  Death  upon 
us  if  we  fialfili  it  not ;  and  the  Apoftle  alTures  us,  Love 
is  the  fulfilling  of  it.  Without  Love  therefore  to  GOD 
and  Man  we  become  Debtors  to  the  Law,  and  fall 
under  the  Condemnation  of  it. 

Nor  will  any  of  thefe  fuppofed  Attainments  in  Re- 
ligion, ever  atone  for  our  palt  Breaches  of  the  Law: 
We  have  finned,  and  are  become  Guilty  before  GOD: 
His  Law  condemns  us:  and  in  vain  to  think  any  Thing 
we  can  attain  to,  fo  long  as  we  are  deftitute  of  Love 
to  GOD,  will  atone  for  our  Sim. 

Nor  will  they  ever  move  GOD  to  pardon  us  and 
acquit  us  from  the  Sentence  of  Death  we  are  under  : 
They  may  move  Men  to  overlook  our  paft  Mifcar- 
riages  and  forget  our  Failings  ;  but  GOD  fees  the 
Heart,  and  if  there  be  Enmity  to  Him,  he  will  look: 
upon  us  Enemies,  and  condemn  us  as  fuch. 

Nor  will  thefe  fuppofed  Attainments  in  Religion  ever 
entitle  us  to  the  Obedience  and  Sufferings  of  Christ  : 
It  is  upon  the  Account  of  thefe  alone  we  can  be  jufti- 
fied  before  GOD ;  thefe  are  the  Righteoufnefs  GOD 
will  accept :  And  if  we  are  not  entitled  to  thefe,  we 
roufl  perifli  ;  for  after  all  we  can  poffibly  attain  to,  To 
long  as  we  have  not  Faith  in  Christ,  which  works 
h  Love,  we  have  no  Inter;ft  ia  the  Righteoufnefs  of 
^  -  the 


?o  rbi  great  Dafy  of  CHARITY 

the  Son  of  GOD :   It  is  only  by  that  Faith,  which  works 
by  Love,  that  his  RighteoufneG  is  imputed  to  us. 

Nor  will  all  thefe  Attainments  fit  us  for  Heaven, 
and  entitle  us  to  it,  if  we  have  not  Charity :  After  all  our 
Zeal  and  Fervour  ;  if  we  are  void  of  the  Love  of  GOD 
we  are  utterly  unfit  fcr  that  World  of  Light  and  Love 
above;  GOD  never  will  admit  fuch  as  hate  him,  there ; 
and  he  will  certainly  exclude  us  if  we  are  void  of  that 
Love,  which  is  the  Bufinefs  and  Happinefs  of  Heaven. 

And  after  all  the  Pains  we  have  taken  and  the  At- 
tainraents  we  have  made,  they  will  ferve  only  for  a 
more  pompous  Defcent  into  Hell,  if  we  have  no  love 
to  GOD.  The  more  Knowledge  and  Zeal  we  have, 
the  greater  our  Name  and  Profcffion  has  been,  the 
more  fearful  and  amazing  will  our  Fall  into  Hell  be, 
if  we  have  not  Charity ;  wefhallonly  be  more  fit  Com- 
panions for  Devil  and  damned  Spirits.  Thus  you  fee 
all  your  Attainments  if  you  have  not  Charity,  will 
neither  bring  you  to  Heaven,  nor  fave  you  from  Hell ; 
you  will  be  nothing  but  mofl:  miferable  and  wretched 
Creaturep,  if  you  live  and  die  without  the  Love  of  GOD, 
Which  leads  me  to  the  Application, 
Application. 

Ufe  I.  Of  Information.  And  what  has  been  faid 
may  convince  us  how  falfly  many  Judge  about  Reli* 
gion:  It  is  to  be  feared  the  mofl  place  it  in  fome- 
thing  it  does  not  confift  in.  Some  think  it  is  enough 
If  they  are  Sound  and  Orthodox  in  their  Notions  and 
Conceptions  about  Things  ;  if  they  underftand  the 
Principles  of  Calvin,  and  believe  them,  it)  is  enough  : 
Others  think  Religion  confifts  in  being  of  this  or  that 
Denomination  of  Chriftians :  Some  think  Religion  con- 
fifts in  a  round  of  Duties,  without  any  Life  or  Spirit  ^ 
attending  them  :  Others  are  well  pleafed  with  them- 
feives  becaufe  they  have  been  Zealous  in  fome  Cir- 
eumftances  of  Religion  ;  and  difcovered  a  Vehemency 
againft  fuch  as  have  differed  from  them  :  But  few- 
think  Religion  confifts  in  what  it  really  does,  in  that 
Charity  which  is  the  Fruit  and  Confe^ucnt  of  Faith 
in  the  Son  of  GOD. 

What 


Conftdered  and  Applied^  If 

What  has  been  faid,  alfo  gives  us  too  much  ground 
to  fear,  the  Religion  of  many  will  after  all  their  Painf 
fro/it  them  nothing  :  There  feems  to  be  too  Jittle  figns 
of  Love  either  to  GOD,  or  their  Brother  :  A  certain 
Bitternefs  feems  to  be  too  much  intermingled  with  their 
Religion,  they  don't  feem  to  love  GOD  more  than 
the  Creature,  nor  their  Neighbour  fo  fincercly  a$ 
themfelvc^ 

And  we  may  try  our/elves  By  what  has  Been  faidy 
and  examine  the  State  ef  cur  own  Souls :  It  is  of  great 
Importance  for  us  to  know  how  Matters  fiand  betwixt 
GOD  and  our  own  Souls :  And  there  is  nothing  we 
can  try  ourfelves  by  more  fafely  than  the  Love  of 
GOD.  He  that  Loveth  is  born  cf  GOD.  And  if  we 
can  fatisfy  ourfelves  in  this  one  Point  we  can  know 
what  the  true  State  of  our  Soul  is.  If  we  love  GOD 
we  are  feorn  of  GOD,  and  are  intitled  to  eternal 
Life  ;  but  if  we  love  not  GOD,  we  are  in  a  State  of 
Nature,  under  the  Curfe  o(  th^  Law,  and  a  Sentence 
of  eternal  Condemnation. 

So  alfo  we  may  examine  our  religious  Duties  and 
Services,  by  what  we  have  heard  ;  and  fee  how  far  they 
are  acceptable  to  GOD,  and  profitable  to  us  ;  for  GOD 
is  no  farther  well  pleafed  with  them,  nor  does  he  ac- 
cept of  them,  only  as  they  are  'done  in  Faith,  and 
attended  with  Love  ;  nor  will  they  ever  be  any  far- 
ther Advantageous  to  us,  than  they  proceed  from 
iaith  in  Chrift^  and  are  performed  in  Love  :  G  O  D 
never  will  own  nor  will  he  reward  thofe  Services  which 
are  attended  with  Hatred  to  Himfelf  and  Rancour  to 
our  Neighbour  :  for  GOD  is  Love, 

What  you  have  heard  may  alfb  teach  you,  to  ft  a 
high  Value  on  Charity.  Some  of  late  have  endeavoured 
to  depreciate,  and  undervalue  it,  by  cafting  the  moft 
opprobious  Terms  upon  it  :  Bjt  the  Apoftle  valued 
it  above  Faith  and  Hope  ;  and  furely  we  ought  to 
efleem  it  above  Zeal  and  party  Spirit^  or  a  great  De- 
gree of  Knowledge:  You  cannot  overvalue  the  Love  of 
GOD)   and  your  Neighbour.      It  is  what  every  one 


ti  rke  great  Duty  of  CHARITV 

moft  highly  eftecm  and  pray  earneftly  for  it  :  It  will 
be  better  to  us  than  Tea  Thoufand  Worlds  :  If  we 
love  GOD,  he  will  love  us  to  all  Eternity,  and  we 
can't  be  miferable  in  his  Love  :  It  will  make  us  happy 
and  give  us  inexpreflible  Satisfa6tion  thro'ont  Eternity. 

life  2d5  Of  Humiliation  and  Self- Aba fement.  Let 
us  all  be  afhamed  and  humbled  before  GOD,  that  we 
have  [q  little  of  this  Gofpel-Charity^  in  which  Rtligioa 
confilis:  We  profefs  to  be  the  Difciplesof  a  lovely  Je- 
sg-,  who  has  loved  us  unto  the  Death :  We  have  his 
Example  fet  before  us,  and  his  fpecial  Command  to /o-z;^ 
cm  another'.  We  all  profe fs  to  feek  the  fame  Felicity 
above,  and  hope  to  live  forever  together  in  Heaven, 
loving  GOD  and  ChrisT;  and  one  another  :  And  is 
it  not  a  Shame  that  we  love  one  another  fo  little  here 
on  Earth  ?  Charity  is  almoft  banifhed  from  us :  Bit- 
ternefi,  Cenfofioufnefs  and  Clamour  have  almoft  drove 
Charity  out  of  the  Land:  But  can  we  be  eafy  whilft 
we  love  fo  little  and  have  (o  many  Heart-burnings  to- 
wards one  another  f  Can  we  think  how  Christ  lo- 
ved us  when  Enemies  aud  not  be  afhamed  that  we 
cannot  love  our  Brethren  ?  Let  us  all  fte  wherein  we 
have  been  faulty  in  this  great  Gofpel-Duty  of  Loving 
one  anotb'.r^  and  confefs  our  Sin  before    GOD. 

life  3d,  Here  fufFer  me  to  enforce  a  Cautisn  upon  el- 
very  one,  to  fee  to  it  that  he  does  not  deceive  himfelf 
in  this  important  Point.  Miftake  not  a  natural  Ten- 
dernefs  of  Conftitutisn  for  this  Charity :  You  may  have 
a  more  tender  Heart ;  and  your  Affedions  be  more 
eafily  moved  than  others:  You  miy  be  lefs  cruel  and 
morofe  .•  You  may  have  a  polite  Education,  and  know 
how  to  fpeak:  the  W^ords  of  Decency  and  Comelinefs, 
and  be  a  Stranger  to  this  Charity.  The  young  Man 
in  the  Gofpel,  addrefs'd  our  Saviour  in  a  delightful 
Manner  ;  and  Christ  as  Man,  lov'd  him  ;  but  he 
had  no  Love  to  GOD:  His  AfFedions  were  upon  this 
World. 

This  Charity  is  a  Fruit  of  the  divine  Spirit,  mould- 
ing you  into  the  Frame  and  Temper  of  the  Gofpclj 
«xciting  in  yoa  all  the  gracious  PifpofiUons  of  a  vir- 
'  ~  tuoas 


Confider'd  asd,  Jpplied.  53 

tuous  and  holy  Life  :  And  if  thefe  attend  not  your  Cha- 
rity, it  is  not  fuch  as  the  Apoftle  means,  and  tells  you 
without  it  you  are  nothing. 

Ufa  4th,  Of  Motive  to  us  all,  to  pray  earneftly  to 
GOD  to  pour  out  a  Spirit  of  Charity  f  rem  on  High  upon 
us:  It  is  only  GOD  can  fill  our  Souls  with  Love  to 
Himfelf  and  one  another:  It  is  He  alone  can  deftroy 
that  Enmity  there  is  in  cur  Hearts;  ?nd  he  will  be 
fought  to  for  this  as  well  as  ail  other  Graces  :  And 
when  we  confidcr  thefe  Thing?,  fhall  we  no:  all  wifli 
and  defire  and  pray   for  this  Charity 

Firfi^  It  is  the  heft  andos/y  ffjy^  in  order  to  our  pro- 
fiting under  the  Means  and  Jdvantages  we  are  favoured 
with.  We  are  lifted  up  to  Heaven  in  Privilege- ;  but 
how  Barren  and  Unfruitful  are  we  under  thefe  happy 
Advantages  f  And  whence  comes  it  to  paf^,  but  from 
hence,  that  there  is  fo  little  Charity  araongft  us  ?  We 
don't  love  GOD,  therefore  we  don't  fear,  ferve  and 
reverence  him,  as  we  fhould  do.  We  have  Envying, 
Strife  and  Debate amongft  our  felve^,  therefore  we  don't 
grow  in  the  Chriflian  Life  and  make  Advances  towards 
Heaven  ;  but  v/as  Charity  fervent  and  lively^  how  much 
Ihould  we   profit. 

Secondly,  This  is  the  only  excellent  Way  to  retrieve 
us  from  the  miferable  Confufions  and  Animoficies  we  ar.e 

ran  into. Every  one  may  fee   they  are  great  and 

melancholy;  and  happy  would  it  be  could  we  recover 
our  felves  out  of  them.  Thi^  is  the  only  excellent  Way 
for  Peace  and  Order  amongft  us,  Xoput  onCharity  :  So 
the  Apoftle  told  the  Corinthians,  and  his  Words  are 
inftruciive  to  us :  And  wou'd  all  Sec^s  and  Parties  put 
on  Charity  towards  one  another,  we  might  fcon  e:c- 
pe(5t  thai  Things  would  return  to  their  due  Order  a- 
gain  ;  but  it's  in  vain  to  expedt  it,  if  Love  to  GOD  and 
one  another  does  not  fill  our  Hearts. 

Thirdly,  Charity,  or  Love  to  GOD,   and  cnc  ano- 
ther,  is  attended  with  a  great   deal  of  Pleafure  and.^ 
SetisfaBm  here  on  Earth  -,   if  there  was  nothing  of 
I>  s  E>ut^, 


14  The  ireat  Duty  of  CVikmr^ 

Tiity  in  it,  it  Would  bfe  well  worth  o^t  Pains  to  prit* 
tice  it  as  much  as  pofilble  we  could  :  It  calms  iht 
PaHlons  ;  caftg  but  Uneafinefs,  and  Melancholy  ;  makes 
the  whole  Soul  cheerful  s  It  deftfoys Anger  andEnvy* 
Which  are  rottennefs  to  the  Bones,  Charity  faves  us 
ff"om  that  Jealoufly,  which  is  as  cruel  as  the  Grave. 
Charity  gives  a  Pleafure  to  all  the  Cares  and  Bufincfs 
of  Life  ;  and  it  drives  away  Uneafinefs.  U  is  a  Sort 
of  Heaven  in  the  Mind  :  And  whilft  other  Men  carry 
5»  Hell  in  their  Souls,  the  charitable  Man  enjoys  the 
BlefTed nefs  of  the  Spirits  above.  Who  does  not  long 
to  ftel  this  Love  in  his  Soul  ? 

P*oufthIy,  By  this  it  is  we  become  mofi  like  to  GOB 
^nd  Christ.  How  noble  is  it  to  be  like  GOD  ?  and 
herein  we  can  refembie  Him  ;  we  cannot  imitate  him 
in  Faith  and  Hope^  thefe  Things  cannot  agree  with 
the  Divine  Nature  :  Bat  GOD  is  Love  ;  there  is  pure 
2nd  perfect  Love  in  GOD  j  and  the  more  we  love, 
the  more  we  are  conformed  to  his  Image.  And  how 
much  like  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  do  we  become 
Dy  Charity  ?  How  pure,  how  fervent  and  conftant 
v/as  his  Love  ?  Shall  we  not  lon^  to  be  like  the  great 
GOD,  and  our  afcended  Lord,  who  is  full  of  Love 
to  his  Church  and  People  on  Earth. 

fifthly,  Without  Charity  we  never  fiaU  he  fit  for^ 
tor  can  we  pojjlbly  arrive  to  an  heavenly  JVorld  :  That 
IS  a  World  of  Love,  and  inconceivable  Delight,  wher6 
there  is  no  Uneafinefs  and  Hatred  ;  and  it  is  only 
S|>irit5  who  are  filled  with  Love,  who  are  fitted  for 
th^t  State  of  Blefftidners.  What  Pleafure  could  a  Man 
take  in  Heaven  v.ho  delights  in  Envying,  Revenge, 
and  Strife  f  And  GOD  never  will  ardmit  any  to  Hea- 
ven, who  have  not  their  Enmity  fubdued,  and  their 
Minds  caft  into  the  Mould  of  the  Gofpel,  and  prepared 
to  love  GOD,  and  all  the  Spirits  of  Light  and  Holi* 
iiefs. 

Laftly^  The  more  We  love  on  Earth,  the  more  our 
Affections  and  Defire?  are  drawn  out  after  GOD,  and 
tk^  ^ovt  we  par  on  Charity  to  one  another,  Co  tnuth 

.•••"■  the' 


Confidered  and  Applied* 


25 


tfce  more  Happy  fhall  we  be  when  we  arrive  to  the 
Paradife  above  :  The  more  we  encreafe  and  enlarge 
our  Love  here  ;  fo  much  the  larger  and  extenfive 
will  it  be  in  Heaven  ;  and  confequently  the  more 
Happy  and  Blefled  we  muft  be.  Who  can  think  of 
this,  and  not  pour  out  his  Soul  to  GOD  that  he  would 
give  him  fuch  a  Faith  in  the  Son  of  G  O  D,  as  fhal! 
fill  his  Soul  more  and  more  with  Love  to  GOD  and 
Christ  and  all  the  Children  of  GOD  on  Earth.  Let: 
tis  wreftle  with  GOD  in  Prayer  for  this  Charity  : 
And  will  GOD  of  his  Grace  grant  to  each  one  of  us 
to  love  the  Lord  our  GOD  with  all  our  Heart,  and 
oar  Neighbour  as  ourfclves. 


FINIS. 


r- 


a-  *'-l 

Ip^li 

